Electrospinning of Polymer and Mesoporous Composite Fibers

University of Texas at Dallas
posted on 08/06/2010

Methods and Apparatus for Electrospinning of Polymer and Mesoporous Composite Fibers – A Simple, Controlled and Cost Effective Solution

The Technology in Brief

Composite fibers comprising polymers and mesoporous molecular sieves have tremendous potential in various industries; however, simple, controlled and cost effective methods of producing such fibers are a major challenge. The UT Dallas inventors took note of that and invented a novel apparatus and methods for producing composite fibers comprising polymer and mesoporous molecular sieves by electrospinning.

Background

Composite fibers have numerous commercial applications including, but not limited to, use in sensors and biosensors, scaffolds for cell growth for artificial skin or bone, optical and electronic devices, nanotubes composites, solar cells, fuel cells, smart textiles and paper. Network of fibers comprising polymer fibers and mesoporous molecular sieve fibers, produced by electrospinning displays properties suitable for above-referenced applications that are not present in the fibers prepared using only polymers or only mesoporous molecular sieves. Thus, there is a need for developing electrospinning methods for producing composite fibers comprising polymers and mesoporous molecular sieves.

The invention proposes a method of making a network of fibers comprising polymer fibers and mesoporous molecular sieve fibers, by electrospinning. The network or mesh of non-woven fibers thus produced displays properties that are not present in the fibers prepared using only polymers or only mesoporous molecular sieves.

Description of Invention

The patented invention offers an apparatus and methods for electrospinning composite fibers including polymeric material and mesoporous molecular sieve material. It also offers a method of making a mesh or network of organic and inorganic fibers by electrospinning. It includes a conducting solution to which a high voltage electric current is applied and one or more conducting solution introduction devices for providing a quantity of conducting solution. The conducting solution introduction devices are electrically charged and establish an electric field between them and a target, and controls the flow characteristics of conducting solution from the conducting solution introduction devices.

The properties of the resulting composite fibers produced by electrospinning could be altered by varying the electrical and mechanical properties of the conducting fluid. The conductivity of the macromolecular solution can be drastically changed by adding ionic inorganic/organic compounds.

Benefits

· Simple and controlled method

· Can produce different types of composite fibers

· Properties of fibers could be changed by varying the electrical and mechanical properties of the conducting fluid and by adding ionic compounds

Applications

· In sensors and biosensors

· As a scaffolds for cell growth for artificial skin or bone

· In optical and electronic devices

· In nanotubes composites, solar cells, fuel cells, smart textiles, smart and paper

IP Status

· United States Patent 7,390,452, Issued on Jun 24, 2008, titled "Electrospinning of polymer and mesoporous composite fibers".

Inventors